A M S T E R D A MF R E E L I B R A R Y

A M S T E R D A MF R E E L I B R A R Y

est . 1903

A M S T E R D A MF R E E L I B R A R Y

A M S T E R D A MF R E E L I B R A R Y

518-842-1080 www.amsterdamlibrary.com

FALL 2019

Flower BedsWe are making improvements in the flow-er beds around the Amsterdam Free Li-brary thanks to some hardworking people.

Bill Brocky from the Amsterdam City DPW started the improvements by re-moving several stumps from the beds in front and side of the library. Thanks Bill and the city.

Master Gardeners and owners of “Day-lily Days” on ST HWY 29 in Johnstown, Deb and Bob Landrio made a plan and map of the front south flowerbed and named it “Daylilies through the Decades”.

The blooming is planned to give coverage throughout the year with historic plants from the various decades when they were hybridized. The dates are on a sheet kept in the library. They are planning to do the same on the north flowerbed for next yearOther Master Gardeners from the Cor-nell Cooperative Extension of Fulton and Montgomery County helped with the flowerbed improvements. Jan Duchessi helped plan and weed the gardens. Lynn Hood has been involved. They have sug-gested a children’s garden and hope to start that. Thanks to the Master Gardeners.

The north flowerbed was to be partly weeded but the milkweed was left for the monarch butterflies. The south flower-bed was redone with historic daylilies by Deb and Bob Landrio as explained below. Many monarch butterflies can be seen flying and evidence can be found on the milkweed plants. The flowerbeds around the north side of the library and library sign were cleaned and planted thanks to Carol and Chuck Henderson. Bernadette and Tom Twente, with other volunteers, worked weeding the north flower bed, mulching, and developing signage. Carol and Chuck Henderson

Library nominated to The State and National Register of Historic Places

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced on September 6, 2019 that New York State Board of Historic Preservation has recommended that the Amsterdam Free Library be added to the State and National Registers of Historic Places. State and Federal boards must still ap-prove this for the library to be formally on the registers.

Some people have expressed concern that this will increase the cost of main-taining the library but, in fact, just the opposite is true. It is advantageous for the Amsterdam Free Library to be listed on the National and State Reg-isters of Historic Places. Currently, the library, because of its age and current laws, must have approval from SHPO, the New York State Historic Preser-vation Office. The National Register places no restrictions on the property including destruction, unless the prop-erty is involved in a project receiving Federal assistance. The State Historic Preservation Office must currently ap-prove changes when State grant assis-tance is awarded.

In addition to helping obtain grants, being on the National and State Reg-ister will raise the awareness of the historic value of our 1903 Carnegie Library. The designation also provides protection for the building should work be done on the two bordering state highways. We hope it instills a sense of pride in our city community and encourages heritage tourism and community revitalization.

The Amsterdam Free Library will join twelve other Amsterdam properties on the State and National Historic Register. They are: Guy Park Manor, Green Hill Cemetery, post office, Guy Park Avenue School, Vrooman Avenue School, Samuel Sweet’s Canal Store, Gray-Jewett Mansion, Congregation Temple of Israel (on Mohawk Place), Greene Mansion, Amsterdam Castle, City Hall, and St. Stanislaus Church.

continued on pg. 2

are experienced gardeners that have also done extensive work there and around the library. Schuyler Greenhouses donated flowers through Carol. Sharon Talmadge has been helping make the library plant-ing look better for years. 

Carm Carbone, the manager of Home Depot has donated 11 blueberry bushes. These have been planted on the side flow-erbed near the library - post office parking lot. The manager of Lowes has donated 20 bags of mulch. Scott Wizeniewski from Power Pallet has donated and trucked a load of brown mulch to the library. Thank you for your donations.

Thanks to all who are helping make the li-brary garden beds a place of beauty that people will love to look at and perhaps learn from. All are welcome to come and help plant some bulbs and prepare the beds for winter on Saturday morning Oc-tober 19 at 9 am.

continued from pg. 1

Sunday Book Club

Mary Ann Lewison led a lively discus-sion on Tom Hank’s Uncommon Type.  The short story format was discussed. Some liked it some did not. It was agreed that the quality of the stories varied. Most people related at least one story they enjoyed. 

Sing Unburied Sing by Jesmyn Ward is

next on Sunday October 27 at 2 PM.  Gloria Martuscello will be the discus-sion leader. These books  were passed out today, so please call the library (518 842-1080) ahead to see if any are available.

The Broken Teaglass  by Emily Arse-nault was chosen for Sunday Decem-ber 8 at 2 PM. Deb Glock will be the discussion leader. 

The Sunday Book Club is open to all. Bring a friend with you on October 27.

We still need to select more books for discussion. The books we have been getting are listed on the MVLS web-site (www.mvls.info). Go to the MVLS website, services, readers advisory and available book discussion titles to find the books you might like to discuss in the future. 

Local Artist Showcase Our October artist is Linda E. Eastman

Linda has had a passion for photogra-phy since childhood. This, combined with a love of gardening and hiking, has lead to a lifetime of photo oppor-tunities. Her work has been featured on music album covers, greeting cards, commercial web sites, and limited edition prints. Linda has taught na-ture photography courses for Saratoga PLAN and local Girl Scouts.

Linda is a resident of Broadalbin, NY, where she is the proprietor of Broadal-bin Christian Bookstore and Linda’s Antiques.

Our November artist is Lorrie Tesiero.

Lorrie has worked in the medical field for 31 years, raised two children and didn’t have much time to pursue many hobbies. When she retired she started oil painting classes with Wilson Bick-ford. Lorrie says, “I am now so in love with oil and acrylic painting. It is a very relaxing hobby. “ She lives in Am-sterdam with her husband Bartley, and in addition to her children, she has 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchil-dren. 

Don’t want to miss another wonderful event or communication from your library?

Sign up for e-mail communication today. Visit our website or facebook page to opt in.

Library Architectural and Historical ToursThe Amsterdam Free Library hosted tours throughout the summer featur-ing information about historical and architectural aspects of the library, leaders of the Free Library Movement, and the American Industrial Revolu-tion. The free one-hour tour was of-fered weekly thanks to grant devel-oped by John Naple. Tours were hosted by John and Amsterdam High School student Olivia Holloway.

In 1731, Benjamin Franklin founded the first lending library called the Li-brary Company that had 50 people pay to be members. Lending libraries did not originate as a place anyone could walk into and grab a book, because people paid to be members to access books. In 1805, the Amsterdam Union Li-brary was founded on this member-ship premise. The Amsterdam Library Association eventually took over as the community’s library around 1885 after the union library faded away.  The Am-sterdam Library Association also re-quired members to pay an annual fee.

Andrew Carnegie donated $25,000 toward the construction of the library that stands today in Amsterdam un-der the condition the city would con-tinue to monetarily support a free li-brary and provide a suitable site for the building. On Nov. 3, 1903, the Amster-dam Free Library was ceremoniously opened. The building was designed by Albany architect Albert W. Fuller and has retained it’s beautiful neo-classical features.

The Amsterdam Free Library’s first board president was Dr. William Robb, whose portrait still hangs in the build-ing. A portrait is also displayed of S.H. French, who was elected president following the death of Robb. French is credited for reaching out to Carn-egie for the donation laying the city library’s foundation.

Amsterdam READS

The Amsterdam Reads of the Amster-dam Free Library has undertaken  a project of encouraging reading by put-ting up little libraries. The first little

library was erected in the east end of Amsterdam near Centro Civico. Ma-ria Cinquanti and committee have worked to supply the little library with books to encourage children to read. The public can take or add books. The books are all free. This is part of the national Little Free Library Program - take a book-share a book. They hope to build community, spark creativity and inspire readers.

Local carpenter, Ken Somers, has built a new little library and he and his wife Barbara have donated it to the Am-sterdam READS. READS members are looking at locations to mount the library. Gloria Martucello and helpers will supply this little library. 

If you would like to join the Amster-dam Reads Committee the next meet-ing is November 6 at 1 pm at the library

When returning the bottles and cans just tell them they are for the Amsterdam Free Library.

Thank Youfor your donation.

Recycle for the Library

Or at

Pic N Nickels 4303 Route 30 North Perth

Please consider donating your bottles and cans to help the Amsterdam Free Library.

It’s easy.

21 Choose your locationCountry Feed Store (Sunoco Store) 5040 State Highway 30Amsterdam

ENERGY EFFICIENCY & CLEAN ENERGY PROGRAM INFORMATION SESSION

For Renters, Homeowners and Small Business Owners

WHEN• MONDAY, OCTOBER 21ST 5:30PM-6:30PM

WHERE• AMSTERDAM FREE LIBRARY Newspaper Room 28 Church Street, Amsterdam

PRESENTED BY• Your Community Energy Advisors from Mohawk Valley Community Energy Engagement Program (MVCEEP)

FREE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

LEARN HOW TO SAVE ON YOUR HEATING BILLS

ATTEND FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A GIVEAWAY PRIZE QUESTIONS? CONTACT MVCEEP: Facebook: @MVCEEP Phone: 315.866.4671 Email: cgurdo@mvedd.org

CONTACT THE LIBRARY: Phone: 518.842.1080